Ruben Vardanyan's son David Vardanyan and Vardanyan International Legal Adviser Jared Genser hosted a well-known American host, lawyer Hew Hewitt (Hugh Hewitt) and spoke about Ruben Vardanyan and other Armenian captives in Azerbaijan.
The following is translated from the interview.
Hugh Hewitt. We try to make time during this program so that the audience will be informed that there are political prisoners in the world, one of which is Ruben Vardanyan, which is kept in Azerbaijan. His son David joins us with Jared Genser, who is an internationally recognized human rights defenders. David, can you tell about your father's imprisonment conditions? You are able to talk to him to see him. He is isolated, or are they doing relatively well with him as a political prisoner?
David Vardanyan. It is very important that the audience understands the situation with which we are dealing with. According to the reports of various international organizations, including Freedom House, Azerbaijan ranks among non-free countries in the world and is considered one of the most closed regimes. The problem is that in 2023. In September, after his father's arrest, no family member was able to see him personally. The only thing we have had is the phone calls that take a few minutes. There is also the International Red Cross Committee, which visited the prisoners, but at the beginning of this year, Azerbaijan announced the closure of many international organizations operating in the country, including the Red Cross offices, which means that the captives will be more isolated.
In order to imagine the degree of isolation, let me say that Jared, our lawyer, has not only been able to visit my father, but also to get acquainted with the materials. So everything is done in complete isolation, with violations of all international norms and laws, and we are very worried.
Hugh Hewitt. Mr. Genser, you have dealt a lot of these questions ... Getting out the hostages is a very delicate job. If you put too much pressure, make him deeper in the prison network. If you say nothing, people will forget about him. So how do you work with the Trump team with this question? Who is negotiating with Ruben and other Armenian Christians?
Jared Genser. The question touched upon the highest levels. You know that the US President's special envoy Steve Wheckoff visited Azerbaijan to talk about various issues of bilateral relations, but also calling for the release of Armenian Christian prisoners. Afterwards, Mike Waltsi, a National Security Adviser, talked to the National Security Advisce in Azerbaijan and even made a post on that call. He openly said that President Tramep would like to see a peace agreement, and in the framework of that common process, the free release of prisoners. Thus, we could not actually have a higher level of involvement.
In my opinion, the Trump's administration is now looking for ways to send some very clear signals through political action, which will make it clear to the President of Azerbaijan, that it should take place.
